Fans argue Stuart Bloom’s character arc in The Big Bang Theory was realistic, while some complaints about his transformation into a neurotic figure.
The Big Bang Theory has been a fan-favorite sitcom since its release, thanks to its sharp humor and nerdy references, but most importantly, the well-crafted character arcs. Creator Chuck Lorre, a veteran writer should be credited for the way he shaped characters.
He balanced the show’s humor with meaningful lessons and wrote amazing narratives that resonated with the audience. But there’s one character that people often debate about, claiming how he was ruined. However, if we take a closer look, that isn’t really the case.
Why fans think that Stuart Bloom from The Big Bang Theory was ruined
Stuart Bloom is played by Kevin Sussman in The Big Bang Theory, and the character begins as a confident and talented artist who is also a comic book store owner. In the first two seasons, he seemed intelligent and charismatic. Moreover, he was also Penny’s romantic interest for a short while.
He served as a foil to Penny and Leonard’s relationship, and his role on the show was quite limited. Most importantly, he was too normal and did not have any quirks that made him stand out. But soon, his character began to change dramatically and this seemed odd to many fans.
They felt his changing persona was worse than before, and he didn’t remain his usual confident self at all. Many preferred his older version where he seemed grounded and normal. They felt like it was a disservice to a character who could’ve been a potential romantic lead, but was reduced to a joke.
Some feel the progression of Stuart’s character from The Big Bang Theory was realistic
The writers rewrote him into a neurotic man, filled with self-deprecation, no self-esteem, and financial struggles. However, some argue that his downward spiral made sense as he was drowning in real-world issues that many could understand, like relationship failure, business struggles, and a dip in confidence.
His transition from a business owner who was smart and positive, to a man with self-doubt and struggles was realistic because that’s precisely what happens to people when they fail. Without this arc, he would have been a bland supporting character that made no impact.
In the later season, we get to see a satisfying redemption arc for Stuart. He revives his store, and even though his growth wasn’t overnight, the messiness and delays make it more real. People who found his progression to be good, argue that it mirrors the journey of individuals who go through hardships and later find success in life.
